Leg rest for chairs



Jan. 5 1926.

G. D. GOODWIN LEG REST FOR CHAIRS Filed May 12, 1925 Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

UNITED: STATES GEORGE D. GOODWIN, 0F MCRAE, MONTANA.

LEG BEST FOR CHAIRS.

Application filed May 12, 1925. Serial No. 29 ,756.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, Gnonon D. GooDwIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at McRae, in the county of Big Horn and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leg Rests for Chairs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyin drawings.

This invention relates to a leg rest for chairs and more particularly to a leg rest for invalid chairs wherein the back is adapted to be arranged in substantial alignment with the seat to form a couch or bed.

An important object of the invention is to improve the structure of the leg rest shown in my prior patent, No. 1,380,056, filed May 31, 1921, for invalid chairs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character by means of which the leg rest is positively locked in its adjusted position in alignment with the chair seat and is moved to this positive locking position automatically as the backof the chair is swung to horizontal position.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and im proved bracing connection between the movable back of the chair and the leg section including a shifting pivot locking the brace in a position where it forms in effect a strut for the leg rest.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illus tration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a chair having a fixed seat and a movable back having a leg rest and operating mechanism therefor constructed in accordance with my invention, the parts being shown with the movable back in substantially horizontal position;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the position assumed by the parts when the back is vertically disposed; and,

Figure 3 is a perspective of the leg rest and the adjacent portions of the braces.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a chair seat which may be supported in any suitable manner and 11 a back pivoted to the rear end of the seat and including longitudinally extending supporting members 12 at opposite sides thereof and the lower ends of which, indicated at 13, project below the lower end of the chair seat when the seat back is in vertical or chair forming posi tion. The pivotal connection between the seat and seat back permits this piv connection to be moved to a horizontal position where it substantially aligns with the seat. The construction at this time is such that the lower ends 18 of the braces 12 are vertically spaced below the lower face of the The seat includes sine braces 14- extending from front to the back of the seat and having pivoted to their forward ends a foot rest, gene ally designated at 15.

This leg includes a pair of side members 16 s1 tz ntially aligning with the side supports of the seat and connected by "0 as members, one of which adjacent the free end of the leg rest and indicated at 17 exten sgls beyond the sides of the leg rest and has attached thereto one leaf of a hinge 18, a hinge 18 being arranged at each end of the cross member. Braces 19 are provided each formed in two sections 2 1) and 21 hinged at their adjacent ends, as at 22. The forward ends of the sections 21 are connected to the free leaves of the hinge 18 while the rear ends of the sections 20 are hingedly connected to the lower ends of the corresponding vertical braces 12 of the back, as at 23. v

To the upper surface of each section 20 at the forward end thereof is secured a bracket 24 having a transversely extending pin 25, the pins 25 aligning with one another. Secured to the under surface of the inner end of the leg rest 15 at the side member 16 thereof are a pair of brackets 26 having slots 27 formed therein, these slots inclining downwardly from the inner ends of the brackets to the outer ends thereof and being adapted for the reception of the pins 25. The brackets 2st, 25, are so proportioned that when the leg rest 15 is in proper alignment with the seat 10, the hinged connections 22 between the sections 20, 21 of the braces are shown out of alignment between the hinged connections 23 and 18 of these braces and beyond the line connecting such hinges from the adjacent portions of the leg rest. Each brace thus becomes a truss rigidly supporting the outer end of the leg rest. As the back is moved from the horizontal to the vertical position, the hinge 23 acts to draw the braces longitudinally. The connection between the section 21 and the scat.

seat rest by the pin and inclined slot causes the leg rest to swingvabout its hinged connection with the seat so that the outer end thereof moves downwardly and finally inwardly. At the same time, the sections 21 of the braces are moved in side to side relation to the leg rest so that in the final position of the pa they are compactlyfolded, as illustrated in Figure 2.

It will be obviousrthat a connection of this type may be readily applied and cheaply constructed and when applied, will: provide a rigid bracing of the leg sections at all times when they are in use. It will also be obvious that the leg section may be provided with an extension 28 if this is found to be desirable and certain other changes made therein in adapting the device to chairs of different characters. I therefore donot limit myselftothe specific structure hereinbefore set forth except ashereinafter claimed.

I claim i 1. In combination with a chair having a fixed seat, a backpivoted to the rear edge of the seat and embodying portions extending below a surface of the seat, a leg rest pivoted to the front edge of the seat, a brace comprising two sections pivoted to one another at their adjacent ends, the free end of one section being pivoted to the leg rest adjacent the free end thereof, the free end of the other section being pivoted to the portion of the chair back projecting belowthe seat and a pin and slot connection between the last named section and the inner end of the leg rest shifting thelcg restfrom a position aligned with the chair seat when the seat 1 back issubstantially horizontally disposed to a position beneath the outer seat when the seat back is vertically disposed.

2 In combination with a chair embodying a seat and aback pivoted to the seat embodying a portion extending below the lower surface'of the seat, the connection: of

the backpermitting movement thereof from:

end to the forward end of the first named,

brace and atits forward end to the leg rest adjacent the free edge thereof.

In combination with a chair embodying a seat and a back pivoted to the seat embodying a portion extending below the lower surface of the seat, the'connection' of the back permitting movement thereof from a substantially vertical to a substantially horizontal position, a leg. rest pivoted at'its rear edgeto the front edge of the seat, a slotted bracket secured to the under surface of the leg rest adjacent the rearedge thereof, a brace pivoted at its rearend to the downwardly projectingportion of the seat back and having at its forward end a pin operating in the slotof said bracket, said slot inclining: downwardly from the leg rest fronntherear tozthe forward end thereof and a second brace pivoted atits rear end to the forward end of the first named brace and at its forward end tothe leg rest adjacent .the. free edge-thereof, the pivotal connection of the last named brace with the first named brace lying-beneath a. substan tially horizontal: plane including thepivotal connections of the last namedbrace witlrthc leg rest and the first named brace with the seat back when the seat back and leg rest are in a substantially horizontal position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature;

GEORGE 'D. GOODIVIN. 

